Boone’s analysis puts McDonald's Quarter Pounder with Cheese at 26% of an adult’s daily calories, 77% of the daily salt limit for a child aged 4 to 6 and 2.8 teaspoons of free sugar.
How many calories are in a McDonald's Quarter Pounder with Cheese? It contains 514 kcal, 27g of fat (13g saturated), 11g of sugar and 2.3g of salt, one of the higher-calorie items on the menu.
Build a full meal with our nutrition calculator
Use the Boone meal calculator to build a full meal rather than view this item on its own. Add fries, a drink, dips and a dessert, then choose your age and sex for a more accurate view of how a Quarter Pounder with Cheese fits into a day.
A Quarter Pounder with Cheese is rarely ordered on its own. Use the calculator below to add fries, a drink, dips and a dessert, and see what the combined order adds up to against daily guidelines for calories, saturated fat, sugar and salt.
Nutrition information
Nutrition information: McDonald's Quarter Pounder with Cheese
| Energy | 514 kcal |
| Fat | 27g |
| of which saturates | 13g |
| Carbohydrate | 36g |
| of which sugars | 11g |
| Fibre | 2.3g |
| Salt | 2.3g |
| Protein | 31g |
Nutrition figures are McDonald’s UK published data, per item as sold and before any optional sauces or extras. Boone converts them to the portion and age comparisons on this page.
A McDonald's Quarter Pounder with Cheese contains 514 kcal, which is 26% of the 2,000 kcal adult daily reference intake. It provides 27g of total fat, of which 13g is saturated, 11g of sugar, 2.3g of salt, 31g of protein and 2.3g of fibre.
The saturated fat content of 13g represents 65% of the adult daily guideline of 20g.
McDonald's Quarter Pounder with Cheese is assembled from 7 separately manufactured components, combined at the point of sale. The sesame bun alone carries 7 different classes of additive. Across the whole item the ingredient list names anti-caking agents, antioxidants, colours, dextrose, emulsifiers, firming agents, flavourings, glucose or glucose-fructose syrup, maltodextrin, preservatives, stabilisers and thickeners. None of these add nutritional value. They exist to make the item survive industrial production, freezing and transport.
McDonald's Quarter Pounder with Cheese carries a large share of a child’s daily salt
A McDonald's Quarter Pounder with Cheese contains 2.3g of salt, which is 77% of the daily limit for a child aged 4 to 6. It is also high in saturated fat.
Adult daily reference intakes (Reference Intake, RI)
Calories2,000 kcal
Total fat70g
Saturated fat20g
Carbohydrate260g
Sugars90g
Fibre30g
Salt6g
Protein50g
Sugar in McDonald's Quarter Pounder with Cheese
McDonald's Quarter Pounder with Cheese contains 11g of free sugar per standard serving (2.8 teaspoons). Moderate sugar
The NHS free sugar limit is 30g per day for adults, 24g for children aged 7 to 10, and 19g for children aged 4 to 6. Free sugar excludes the sugars naturally present in milk and whole fruit. The table below shows how this compares across all age groups.
Free sugar by portion: McDonald's Quarter Pounder with Cheese
| Portion | Adult (female)
30g | Adult (male)
30g | Age 11 to 17
30g | Age 7 to 10
24g | Age 4 to 6
19g |
|---|
| Per portion | 11g
37% | 11g
37% | 11g
37% | 11g
46% | 11g
58% |
| Teaspoons | 2.8 tsp |
Boone calculates these percentages from McDonald's UK published nutrition data against UK Dietary Reference Values and NHS free sugar and salt limits. Free sugar, salt, calories and saturated fat are limits to stay under; fibre is a target to reach, so a high percentage there is a good thing. For guidance only.
Salt in McDonald's Quarter Pounder with Cheese
McDonald's Quarter Pounder with Cheese contains 2.3g of salt per standard serving. Moderate salt
Children have lower salt limits: 3g per day for ages 4 to 6, 5g for ages 7 to 10. The table below shows how this serving compares to daily limits for adults and children.
Salt by portion: McDonald's Quarter Pounder with Cheese
| Portion | Adult (female)
6g | Adult (male)
6g | Age 11 to 17
6g | Age 7 to 10
5g | Age 4 to 6
3g |
|---|
| Per portion | 2.3g
38% | 2.3g
38% | 2.3g
38% | 2.3g
46% | 2.3g
77% |
Boone calculates these percentages from McDonald's UK published nutrition data against UK Dietary Reference Values and NHS free sugar and salt limits. Free sugar, salt, calories and saturated fat are limits to stay under; fibre is a target to reach, so a high percentage there is a good thing. For guidance only.
Calories in McDonald's Quarter Pounder with Cheese
McDonald's Quarter Pounder with Cheese contains 514 kcal per standard serving. Moderate calorie share
Daily calorie needs vary by age and sex. The table below shows how this serving compares to typical daily reference intakes.
Calories by portion: McDonald's Quarter Pounder with Cheese
| Portion | Adult (female)
2000 kcal | Adult (male)
2500 kcal | Age 11 to 17
1936 kcal | Age 7 to 10
1553 kcal | Age 4 to 6
1291 kcal |
|---|
| Per portion | 514 kcal
26% | 514 kcal
21% | 514 kcal
27% | 514 kcal
33% | 514 kcal
40% |
Boone calculates these percentages from McDonald's UK published nutrition data against UK Dietary Reference Values and NHS free sugar and salt limits. Free sugar, salt, calories and saturated fat are limits to stay under; fibre is a target to reach, so a high percentage there is a good thing. For guidance only.
Saturated fat in McDonald's Quarter Pounder with Cheese
McDonald's Quarter Pounder with Cheese contains 13g of saturated fat per standard serving. Moderate saturated fat
The saturated fat guideline is 20g a day for women and 30g for men, and lower again for children. The table below shows how this serving compares.
Saturated fat by portion: McDonald's Quarter Pounder with Cheese
| Portion | Adult (female)
20g | Adult (male)
30g | Age 11 to 17
20g | Age 7 to 10
18g | Age 4 to 6
16g |
|---|
| Per portion | 13g
65% | 13g
43% | 13g
65% | 13g
72% | 13g
81% |
Boone calculates these percentages from McDonald's UK published nutrition data against UK Dietary Reference Values and NHS free sugar and salt limits. Free sugar, salt, calories and saturated fat are limits to stay under; fibre is a target to reach, so a high percentage there is a good thing. For guidance only.
Fibre in McDonald's Quarter Pounder with Cheese
McDonald's Quarter Pounder with Cheese contains 2.3g of fibre per standard serving. Some fibre
Fibre is the one figure here that is a target to reach rather than a limit to stay under. UK guidance is 30g a day for adults, 25g for ages 11 to 17, 20g for ages 7 to 10 and 15g for ages 4 to 6. Most people in the UK fall well short. The table below shows how much of a day’s fibre this serving provides.
Fibre by portion: McDonald's Quarter Pounder with Cheese
| Portion | Adult (female)
30g | Adult (male)
30g | Age 11 to 17
25g | Age 7 to 10
20g | Age 4 to 6
15g |
|---|
| Per portion | 2.3g
8% | 2.3g
8% | 2.3g
9% | 2.3g
12% | 2.3g
15% |
Boone calculates these percentages from McDonald's UK published nutrition data against UK Dietary Reference Values and NHS free sugar and salt limits. Free sugar, salt, calories and saturated fat are limits to stay under; fibre is a target to reach, so a high percentage there is a good thing. For guidance only.
Ultra-processed food: what is really in it
Processing and additives: McDonald's Quarter Pounder with Cheese
McDonald's Quarter Pounder with Cheese is assembled from 7 separately manufactured components, combined and cooked at the point of sale. Reading the ingredient list closely, it contains anti-caking agents, antioxidants, colours, dextrose, emulsifiers, firming agents, flavourings, glucose or glucose-fructose syrup, maltodextrin, preservatives, stabilisers and thickeners. These are not there to add nutritional value. They make industrial production and distribution possible.
Anti-caking agents
Stop powders and sliced products sticking together. Found in the processed cheddar cheese slice.
Antioxidants
Slow the natural oxidation of fats, so components keep their colour and flavour. Found in the sesame bun.
Colours
Restore or standardise appearance after processing. Found in the processed cheddar cheese slice.
Dextrose
A simple sugar used for browning, bulk and mild sweetness. Found in the sesame bun.
Emulsifiers
Help oil-based and water-based ingredients blend and stay blended. Found in the sesame bun.
Firming agents
Keep processed vegetables crisp after packing. Found in the pickle slices.
Flavourings
Add or restore taste lost during processing. Found in the sesame bun, processed cheddar cheese slice, pickle slices.
Glucose or glucose-fructose syrup
Sweeten and control texture more cheaply than sugar alone. Found in the tomato ketchup.
Maltodextrin
Bulk out a product and carry flavour, with little taste of its own. Found in the sesame bun.
Preservatives
Slow the growth of bacteria, yeasts and moulds in centrally prepared components. Found in the beef patty, pickle slices.
Stabilisers
Stop mixtures separating and hold texture during storage and transport. Found in the sesame bun.
Thickeners
Give sauces and syrups the body they would otherwise lack. Found in the sesame bun.
Boone classifies McDonald's Quarter Pounder with Cheese as NOVA group 4, ultra-processed, based on the additives named above. NOVA groups foods by how far they are from their whole-food form, not by how nutritious they are. A group 4 food is not automatically unhealthy, and a group 1 food is not automatically healthy. Read from the published ingredient list, 17-18 August 2026.
A McDonald's Quarter Pounder with Cheese contains at least 31 distinct ingredients: 19 raw and 12 manufactured. Ordered as a full meal with a dip and a dessert that reaches 56, of which 27 are manufactured. Raw means something you could buy and cook with at home; manufactured means a substance that only exists as an output of industrial processing.
Ingredient count by order: McDonald's Quarter Pounder with Cheese
| What you order | Raw | Manufactured | Total | % manufactured |
|---|
| McDonald's Quarter Pounder with Cheese on its own | 19 | 12 | 31 | 39% |
| McDonald's Quarter Pounder with Cheese + medium fries | 21 | 12 | 33 | 36% |
| McDonald's Quarter Pounder with Cheese + fries + a dip | 23 | 21 | 44 | 48% |
| McDonald's Quarter Pounder with Cheese + fries + dip + a medium Coca-Cola | 24 | 24 | 48 | 50% |
| McDonald's Quarter Pounder with Cheese + fries + dip + drink + an Oreo McFlurry | 29 | 27 | 56 | 48% |
The 12 manufactured ingredients
dextrose, emulsifying salts, glucose-fructose syrup, guar gum, maize maltodextrin, maize starch, milk protein, natural cheese flavouring, pea protein, potato starch, spice extracts, wheat starch.
The 19 raw ingredients
butter, cream yeast, gherkins, milk, mustard seed, pepper, pure beef, rapeseed oil, salt, sesame seeds, spirit vinegar, sugar, tomato puree, vegetarian cheddar, vegetarian cheese, water, wheat flour, whey or skimmed milk powder, white onions.
What those ingredients are, by type
Meat, fish, dairy and eggs7
Starches4
Grains and flours4
Sugars and syrups3
Oils and fats3
Fruit and vegetables3
Stabilisers and thickeners1
Flavourings1
Acids and acidity regulators1
Salt and minerals1
Boone counts every distinct named ingredient on McDonald’s published component lists, including sub-ingredients, and removes duplicates, so salt appearing in four components counts once. Additive class names are dropped and the named substance kept, so “stabiliser (guar gum)” counts guar gum once. Raw covers whole foods and basic kitchen staples such as flour, sugar, salt and oil. Manufactured covers substances that only exist as an output of industrial processing. Where McDonald’s lists more than one approved supplier recipe only the primary one is counted, so every figure here is a minimum. The build uses a Sweet and Sour dip.
Ingredients
McDonald's Quarter Pounder with Cheese is assembled from 7 separately manufactured components.
Ingredients by component: McDonald's Quarter Pounder with Cheese
Sesame bun
WHEAT flour, water, sugar, SESAME seeds, cream yeast, rapeseed oil, salt, dextrose, thickener (guar gum), emulsifier, pea protein, potato starch, natural flavouring, WHEAT starch, maize maltodextrin, antioxidant, maize starch.
Beef patty
100% pure beef, seasoned with salt and pepper after cooking, with no additives, fillers, binders, preservatives or flavour enhancers.
Processed cheddar cheese slice
vegetarian cheddar (51%) (MILK), water, vegetarian cheese (9%) (MILK), whey or skimmed MILK powder, butter (MILK), emulsifying salts, MILK protein, natural cheese flavouring (MILK), salt, colours, anti-caking agent.
Pickle slices
gherkins, water, spirit vinegar, salt, firming agent, natural flavouring, preservative.
Tomato ketchup
60% tomato puree (equivalent to 168g tomatoes per 100g ketchup), glucose-fructose syrup, spirit vinegar, salt, spice extracts.
Mustard
water, spirit vinegar, MUSTARD seed (14%), salt, spices, spice extract.
McDonald’s lists more than one approved supplier formulation for the sesame bun and processed cheddar cheese slice; the version shown is the primary one and the allergen information covers all variants. Ingredients taken from the McDonald’s UK product pages, retrieved 17-18 August 2026. Recipes change - always check in restaurant before ordering if you have an allergy.
Allergens at a glance
McDonald's Quarter Pounder with Cheese contains wheat, sesame, milk and mustard.
Allergen information: McDonald's Quarter Pounder with Cheese
| Allergen | Status |
|---|
| Wheat | Contains |
| Rye | May contain traces |
| Barley | May contain traces |
| Oats | Not present |
| Sesame | Contains |
| Soya | Not present |
| Milk | Contains |
| Eggs | Not present |
| Fish | Not present |
| Crustaceans | Not present |
| Celery | Not present |
| Mustard | Contains |
| Molluscs | Not present |
| Lupin | Not present |
Contains = declared as an ingredient. May contain traces = McDonald's states the allergen cannot be excluded. McDonald's prepares food in kitchens where all 14 major allergens are present and equipment is shared, so no item can be guaranteed allergen free, even when ingredients are removed on request. Buns, rolls and tortilla wraps are toasted in the same toaster as sesame-topped buns. Retrieved 17-18 August 2026.
